Government remains indifferent to traffic safety

Government remains indifferent to traffic safety

In the last week, 78 traffic accidents occurred in the TRNC. One person was killed and 22 people were injured.

According to the weekly traffic report by the Police General Directorate covering May 15 to May 21, around 140 traffic violations were recorded, including driving too close to the vehicle in front and not stopping at crossroads, using a mobile phone while driving and failing to obey traffic signs.

Damage to property as the results of road accidents amounted to TL 405,000.

In another report published by ‘Kibris Postasi’ earlier this month, Hüseyin Sevay, President of Traffic Accident Life Association, said that since 1975, “Traffic safety has not been given priority by past administrations, and society has been condemned to death and permanent injuries through traffic accidents”.

The association’s president said that the lack of traffic safety in the TRNC had caused an average of 39 people to die each year over the last decade and about 200 people being seriously injured. He stressed that the current system does not serve the public and that there is nothing in place to save lives and prevent permanent disabilities.

Sevay, emphasising the apparent lack of concern about this subject, pointed out that an extraordinary parliamentary meeting was arranged on 4 May, and noted that speeches on road safety issues were addressed to mostly empty seats.